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3 49ers On Thin Ice With Robert Saleh as Defensive Coordinator

Now that defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is heading to the Bay, these three San Francisco 49ers are officially on thin ice this offseason.

By Devon Platana

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in the first half of a game at MetLife Stadium.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in the first half of a game at MetLife Stadium. / Chris Pedota / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The San Francisco 49ers left much to be desired amid a 2024 season that ended in disappointment. Kyle Shanhan's team couldn't sustain any success it saw, finishing the campaign with an abysmal 6-11 record while missing the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Shanhan's coaching staff has since undergone several changes. Although some of the 49er HC's additions haven't exactly been celebrated, fans are loving other changes — including Robert Saleh's hiring as the new defensive coordinator. San Francisco could use the 46-year-old's defensive expertise after finishing the regular season with the No. 14-graded defense on Pro Football Focus.

Saleh is a coach who knows what he wants and likely has plans to trim some fat this offseason. With that in mind, here are three 49ers who are officially on thin ice now that he's running the defense.

1. Talanoa Hufanga, S

Veteran safety Talanoa Hufanga is one of several 49ers who will become free agents next month. The former USC Trojan became a San Francisco fan favorite back in 2022 due to an impressive performance that saw him earn his first Pro Bowl nomination and All-Pro first-team honors.

Unfortunately, Hufanga hasn't come close to reaching those heights since then because of an ever-expanding injury history. The 26-year-old defender only played 10 games in 2023 due to a torn ACL and was limited to seven appearances in 2024 due to a combination of wrist and ankle ailments.

To make matters worse, he suffered a concussion in the 49ers' regular-season finale. He ended his fourth NFL season with 20 solo tackles and a 57.8 defense grade on PFF — No. 72 out of 98 eligible safeties.

Now that he's becoming a free agent, Spotrac projects that Hufanga could earn $11.9 million annually on his next contract. While he's worth that price when healthy, the 49ers might not be willing to come close to that amount if they don't believe he can return to his old form.

Unless his agent can convince Saleh that he's irreplaceable, 49ers fans may have seen the last of Hufanga.

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